Ex-WHITESNAKE/DIO Guitarist DOUG ALDRICH Exits 'Raiding The Rock Vault'

Former WHITESNAKE and DIO guitarist Doug Aldrich has exited the critically acclaimed Las Vegas production “Raiding The Rock Vault”.

Said Aldrich in a statement: “Today starts a new chapter for me. I’ll be on permanent vacation from ‘Raiding The Rock Vault’.

“Thank you so much to all the fans that have supported me in the show. I wish all my brothers and sisters in the show continued success as it really IS the best show in Vegas.

“Thanks to a at the Tropicana Las Vegas for your hospitality:) I’ll be back to visit ASAP.”

“Raiding The Rock Vault” has been described as a “90-minute history of classic rock performed by members of some of the greatest bands in history,” including Mark Boals (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, DOKKEN), Howard Leese (HEART, BAD COMPANY), Robin McAuley (MSG, SURVIVOR) and Paul Shortino (ROUGH CUTT, QUIET RIOT).

“Raiding The Rock Vault” opened at LVH in March 2013 and moved to Tropicana in December 2014. Musician, producer and vocalist John Payne (ASIA), who co-wrote the show’s original script but was let go from the production in May 2014, sued his former “Raiding The Rock Vault” collaborator Sir Harry Cowell last July, alleging copyright infringement and slander and claiming he was owed money for his royalties and performances. That lawsuit was settled in December.

TWISTED SISTER singer Dee Snider slammed “Raiding The Rock Vault” earlier in the year, calling it a “tribute band of a bunch of add-on people who were not the people who played on these classic albums except for [guitarist] Howard Leese, who is the only actual guy who was in the studio making the records we love. Otherwise, it’s an army of guys up there claiming their credentials, that they were in these bands, and they are not legit.” He added: “It’s offensive to the guys who actually played on these albums.”

Aldrich played on the last two all-new WHITESNAKE studio albums, 2008’s “Good To Be Bad” and 2011’s “Forevermore”, and appeared on several live releases, including 2013’s “Made In Japan” and “Made In Britain/The World Records”.